As a 20-year Los Angeles newborn photography veteran, it occurred to me that it might be helpful to some of you just starting out, that I share some of my essential newborn photography kit. Besides the camera and the lighting, I wanted to share the top 6 newborn photography essentials that make my job so much easier. To get more tips and tricks, please use the form a the bottom of this post to join my email list or join me for more education HERE!
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#1 BEANBAG OR POSING TABLE
The #1 thing I couldn’t live without for amazing photos of the baby without a prop set up are a beanbag or posing table. I LOVE my prop setups, as we know, and the design of newborn photography is my FAVORITE thing, but a session would not be complete without these images as well. They are simple, pure, timeless and treasured by families. If you are just getting started and are not ready to invest in these yet, you can definitely sort out some sort of setup on your own. When I was starting out, I clipped a blanket to a backdrop stand and used a beanbag I found at Home Goods. I now have both of these examples below, made by Newborn Studio Props and I love them. They are SUPER well made, safe for the baby and make my life so much easier during the shoot and the post-production because I can always get the blanket below the baby smooth and wrinkle-free. I highly recommend the investment when you are ready!
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I have this round newborn beanbag set up for my home studio and I LOVE it!
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I take this portable posing table with me when I go to my clients. It sets up so easily and takes up much less space in my car than my beanbag setup used to.
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#2 I know this seems silly, but: CLAMPS!
#2 is clamps! This may sound ridiculous and somewhat obvious, but the setups above just wouldn’t work without them. If I got to my session and didn’t have these with me, a level of panic would definitley set in! I use clamps for my beanbag or posing table, for my backdrops that I roll down as the “wall” of a setup, and sometimes even as wardrobe clips. You just never know when a clamp is going to come in handy, a studio photography kit just isn’t complete without them! I love these ones from Neewer, they are flat and wide and hug the metal bars of the stands. They also have built in grip so they don’t slide or pop off, which is fantastic because I have had this happen with other clamps! A clamp popping off and hitting the floor can definitely wake a baby. This set of 10 Neewer clamps is available on Amazon for just over $20, they are a must!
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#3 Couldn’t live without them: POSERS
There are many variations of these out there and they are something I use for every session, without a doubt. They will give you height and support in props that you are laying the baby in, as well as create the form and shape you want on the posing table or beanbag. Posing beans and supports are a must, once you try them, you will be hooked! I have two of this set, as well as a few others. This 6 pack of posing beans is sold on Amazon for just over $20, it’s a great deal!
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#4 is a big one: HEAT!!!
Newborn babies are used to the nice toasty temperature of 98.6 degrees inside of Mommy, so the 65-75ish degrees we keep our homes at is quite cold for them, especially once we unwrap and undress them to capture all of their cute baby parts. Having a space heater nearby to keep them warm without heating up the whole studio or home is a must! Post-partum Moms and most Dads I come across, tend to run warm, so heating up the whole space can create some cranky and sweaty clients. I know I am not a huge fan of being hot, which is funny since I spend a portion of most days in front of a space heater with a newborn, so this is a big one for me! Lol! There are many models out there, try to find one that doesn’t blow too hard or you will find some of your textiles blowing in the wind and one with an adjustable temperature so you have more control.
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#5 Another must: SOUND MAKERS
#5 is the OH SO crucial sound maker! First is the Baby Shusher, which is sold at many online retailers for around $30, and next is a white noise maker. It is great to have a white noise maker going the entire session in case the dog barks, something falls on the floor, or a child yells. Any sort of sudden loud noise that can wake the baby is less likely to do so if there is already a steady sound going on. Music also works well for this and I often have that going in the background as well as the white noise. In times of fussing or crying the Baby Shusher comes to my rescue often to quiet the baby down. It is a recorded sound of a person shushing loudly and repeatedly. Sounds odd, but it really does work and is a lot more sanitary than me blowing my breath towards a baby repeatedly.
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I hope this was helpful and assists you on your newborn photography journey! I would love to follow along and connect, find me on Instagram at: @dianahendersonphotography
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